Revelation 3:17; Thou Art Wretched, Miserable and Poor and Blind and Naked (2)

Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Is this our problem too, in materially affluent Singapore? When our savings go a little lower, we lose sleep and worry non-stop. This is a symptom of the sin of covetousness.

Jesus asked the ultimate question that exposes the rich young man’s depravity. He was pricked in his heart and confronted with his weakness. He knew that he has not kept the commandments, he will not enter eternal life by what knowledge and strength he knew.

The purpose of the law is to expose our sins that it may humble us to accept God’s solution for our justification for eternal life.

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Riches as deceitful because it fails to fulfill its promise of giving true happiness, comfort, and security to its pursuer, it promises much but satisfies little. It is deceptive. It does not satisfy the true need of the soul. This material idol often blinds the heart making it insensitive to the gospel. More often than not, those who possess material prosperity deny the existence of God. They ascribe success to self or factors other than God. There is a sense of self-conceitedness in the heart of one who is deluded by riches. This is the trouble with this rich young ruler.

Jesus warned that riches dull the senses, make the heart cold towards the things of God. Jesus gave the example of the rich man who pulled down his barns to build bigger barns. This man thought to himself, “…there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.(Lk.12:18b-19)” God pronounced judgment upon such a man, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (Lk. 12:20)”.

Indeed, a man who lays up treasure for himself is not rich towards God (Lk. 12:21).

Somebody’s Knocking At Your Door

Somebody’s knocking at your door,
Somebody’s knocking at your door;
O sinner why don’t you answer?
Somebody’s knocking at your door.

May the Lord grant us His grace to let Him into our lives. Amen.